US3731681A — Implantable indusion pump

Claim 1

Independent Claim 187 words

An infusion pump for implantation in a living body comprising: A. a housing, B. means for dividing the housing into first and second fluidtight chambers, the dividing means being movable relative to the housing so as to vary the volumes of the chambers in a reciprocal manner, C. an inlet conduit located at a first position on the housing leading to the second chamber, D. at least one outlet conduit located at a second position on the housing adjacent to but spaced from said inlet conduit communicating with the second chamber and for leading to an infusion site in the body, E. means in the first chamber for moving the dividing means to reduce the volume of the second chamber so that a fluid in the second chamber may be forced through the outlet conduit, and F. a self-sealing, penetrable member in said inlet conduit, said member being unobstructed so that the pump can be implanted in the body with the unobstructed penetrable member situated adjacent a surface area of the body whereby the second chamber can be refilled with fluid periodically by injection through the skin.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 187 words

An infusion pump for implantation in a living body comprising: A. a housing, B. means for dividing the housing into first and second fluidtight chambers, the dividing means being movable relative to the housing so as to vary the volumes of the chambers in a reciprocal manner, C. an inlet conduit located at a first position on the housing leading to the second chamber, D. at least one outlet conduit located at a second position on the housing adjacent to but spaced from said inlet conduit communicating with the second chamber and for leading to an infusion site in the body, E. means in the first chamber for moving the dividing means to reduce the volume of the second chamber so that a fluid in the second chamber may be forced through the outlet conduit, and F. a self-sealing, penetrable member in said inlet conduit, said member being unobstructed so that the pump can be implanted in the body with the unobstructed penetrable member situated adjacent a surface area of the body whereby the second chamber can be refilled with fluid periodically by injection through the skin.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

The pump defined in claim 1 wherein the moving means is comprised of a volatile fluid in the first chamber which exerts a sufficient vapor pressure at physiological temperatures to more the dividing means and force the contents of the second chamber through the outlet conduit.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 11 words

being sealed with respect to the interior of the housing, and

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 11 words

being sealed with respect to the interior of the housing, and

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The pump defined in claim 2 and further including: A. an entry port to the chamber from the outside of the housing, and B. a fluid-tight closure for the entry port.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 109 words

being compressible in response to pressure exerted on the ouside of the end wall, C. an inlet conduit leading to the interior of the bellows from the outside of the housing, C. an outlet conduit communicating with the interior of the bellows for conducting fluid from the interior of the bellows to an infusion site in the body, and E. a self-sealing, penetrable member in the inlet conduit, said penetrable member being unobstructed so that the pump can be implanted in the body with the unobstructed member situated adjacent a surface area of the body whereby the bellows can be refilled with fluid periodically by injection through the skin.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 109 words

being compressible in response to pressure exerted on the ouside of the end wall, C. an inlet conduit leading to the interior of the bellows from the outside of the housing, C. an outlet conduit communicating with the interior of the bellows for conducting fluid from the interior of the bellows to an infusion site in the body, and E. a self-sealing, penetrable member in the inlet conduit, said penetrable member being unobstructed so that the pump can be implanted in the body with the unobstructed member situated adjacent a surface area of the body whereby the bellows can be refilled with fluid periodically by injection through the skin.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

The pump defined in claim 1 and further including fluid flow regulating means in the outlet conduit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

An infusion pump for implantation in a living body comprising: A. a housing including an inlet means, B. a metal bellows within the housing, the bellows

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

An infusion pump for implantation in a living body comprising: A. a housing including an inlet means, B. a metal bellows within the housing, the bellows

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 40 words

The pump defined in claim 5 and further including a volatile liquid in the housing outside the bellows which exerts a sufficient vapor pressure at physiological temperatures to compress the bellows and force the bellows contents through the outlet conduit.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

The pump defined in claim 5 and further including means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid through the outlet conduit.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The pump defined in claim 5 wherein the penetrable member is comprised of a penetrable self-sealing stopper.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

The pump defined in claim 5 and further including means for limiting the extent to which the bellows can be compressed in response to the pressure exerted on its end wall.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 139 words

An infusion pump for implantation in a living body comprising: A. a housing, B. first and second chambers within the housing, C. a liquid-tight, vapor-tight, pressure-communicating metal bellows separating the chambers, said bellows having an open mouth at one end and closed wall at the other end, the mouth of the bellows being secured in liquid-tight, vapor-tight relation, the first chamber being provided with an inlet means and lying between the inside walls of the housing and the bellows and the second chamber lying within the bellows, D. an entry port into the second chamber and liquid-tight closure means therefor, the closure means being penetrable from the outside of a living body after implantation therein by injection through the skin, and E. at least one discharge port from the second chamber spaced from but adjacent to said entry port.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 139 words

An infusion pump for implantation in a living body comprising: A. a housing, B. first and second chambers within the housing, C. a liquid-tight, vapor-tight, pressure-communicating metal bellows separating the chambers, said bellows having an open mouth at one end and closed wall at the other end, the mouth of the bellows being secured in liquid-tight, vapor-tight relation, the first chamber being provided with an inlet means and lying between the inside walls of the housing and the bellows and the second chamber lying within the bellows, D. an entry port into the second chamber and liquid-tight closure means therefor, the closure means being penetrable from the outside of a living body after implantation therein by injection through the skin, and E. at least one discharge port from the second chamber spaced from but adjacent to said entry port.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 70 words

A pump according to claim 10 further characterized in that: A. a recessed, cup-like member is disposed in one end of the housing extending within the mouth of the bellows, B. an aperture is provided in the cup-like member with a fitting therein having a channel in communication with the second chamber, and C. the bellows is collapsible into an annular space between the cup-like member and the housing wall.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 44 words

The pump according to claim 10 and further characterized in that: A. the penetrable closure means is an elastic member, and B. an annular retainer having a central aperture is secured to the external end of the fitting in engagement with the elastic member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 54 words

The pump according to claim 12 and further characterized in that: A. the housing and the fitting having contours conforming generally to the contours of the implantation site in the body, and B. a conduit is connected to the discharge port for conducting infusate from the bellows to an infusion site in the body.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pump according to claim 13 wherein the conduit is a length of capillary tubing.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 43 words

The pump according to claim 10 and further characterized in that the first chamber is partially filled with a stable, volatile liquid that exerts a vapor pressure of greater than 1 atmosphere at physiological temperatures, whereby the pump is self-powered through body warmth.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 125 words

The method of infusing liquids into a living boby, said method comprising: A. implanting a self-powered pump according to claim 15 in a living body, with the closure means to the entry port of the second chamber of the pump underlyIng and facing the skin, B. connecting the discharge port to at least one infusion site in the body, C. injecting infusate through the skin of the body and through the closure means to fill the second chamber thereby condensing the vapor within the first chamber to charge the power source, and D. expanding the vapor in the first chamber through body warmth to gradually collapse the second chamber to expel the infusate in the second chamber through the discharge port to the infusion site.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 129 words

The method of infusing fluids into a living body, said method comprising the steps of: A. charging the power cell of a vapor pressure pump with a stable, volatile liquid that exerts an appreciable vapor pressure at physiological temperatures, B. forming a self-sealing, penetrable member in the discharge port of the pump, C. implanting the pump in the body so that the penetrable member underlies the skin, D. expanding the pressure-exerting vapor in the power cell through body warmth to pump infusate through the discharge port to an infusion site in the body, and E. injecting additional fluid through the skin and through the penetrable member periodically to refill the pump with infusate and, at the same time, condense the pressure-exerting vapor so as to recharge the power cell.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 129 words

The method of infusing fluids into a living body, said method comprising the steps of: A. charging the power cell of a vapor pressure pump with a stable, volatile liquid that exerts an appreciable vapor pressure at physiological temperatures, B. forming a self-sealing, penetrable member in the discharge port of the pump, C. implanting the pump in the body so that the penetrable member underlies the skin, D. expanding the pressure-exerting vapor in the power cell through body warmth to pump infusate through the discharge port to an infusion site in the body, and E. injecting additional fluid through the skin and through the penetrable member periodically to refill the pump with infusate and, at the same time, condense the pressure-exerting vapor so as to recharge the power cell.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-05-07	1976-11-06	1977-05-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-05-07	1980-11-06	1981-05-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-05-07	1984-11-06	1985-05-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Implantable indusion pump

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